TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultrastructure of ovarian follicles in in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries
T2 - Response to human chorionic gonadotropin and comparison with in vivo observations
AU - Wallach, E. E.
AU - Okuda, Y.
AU - Kanzaki, H.
AU - Kobayashi, Y.
AU - Okamura, H.
AU - Santulli, R.
AU - Wright, K. H.
PY - 1984
Y1 - 1984
N2 - Ovulation may be achieved and studied in an isolated perfused rabbit ovary upon inclusion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the perfusion fluid. The ultrastructural features of the rabbit ovarian follicle prior to ovulation in vitro were compared with those in vivo. The perifollicular vasculature was also examined in in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries during the preovulatory interval. Granulosa cells of the preovulatory follicle share many ultrastructural features in vivo and in vitro; however, only small amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) were observed in granulosa cells in vitro after hCG. Ovulation after hCG in the in vitro preparation tends to occur earlier (6 hours) than in vivo (12 hours). Thus, there may be insufficient time and/or gonadotropin exposure to permit full functional development of granulosa cells, as reflected by reduced amounts of sER. Degradation of collagen fibrils was less prominent in the theca externa and tunica albuginea in vitro than in in vivo. Perifollicular capillaries became dilated after hCG, but interendothelial gaps were not observed. Disappearance of surface epithelium in the apex of follicles was similar in vitro and in vivo.
AB - Ovulation may be achieved and studied in an isolated perfused rabbit ovary upon inclusion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the perfusion fluid. The ultrastructural features of the rabbit ovarian follicle prior to ovulation in vitro were compared with those in vivo. The perifollicular vasculature was also examined in in vitro perfused rabbit ovaries during the preovulatory interval. Granulosa cells of the preovulatory follicle share many ultrastructural features in vivo and in vitro; however, only small amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) were observed in granulosa cells in vitro after hCG. Ovulation after hCG in the in vitro preparation tends to occur earlier (6 hours) than in vivo (12 hours). Thus, there may be insufficient time and/or gonadotropin exposure to permit full functional development of granulosa cells, as reflected by reduced amounts of sER. Degradation of collagen fibrils was less prominent in the theca externa and tunica albuginea in vitro than in in vivo. Perifollicular capillaries became dilated after hCG, but interendothelial gaps were not observed. Disappearance of surface epithelium in the apex of follicles was similar in vitro and in vivo.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0021256890&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0021256890&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)47970-7
DO - 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)47970-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 6724006
AN - SCOPUS:0021256890
SN - 0015-0282
VL - 42
SP - 127
EP - 133
JO - Fertility and sterility
JF - Fertility and sterility
IS - 1
ER -